Government Departments: Special Advisers

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in accordance with Section 17 of the model contract for special advisers, those special advisers employed by the Deputy Prime Minister have notified their head of department of any other external employment they have undertaken in the past year; and, if so, what was the nature of any such external employment.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Neither of the special advisers employed by the Deputy Prime Minister have undertaken any external employment in the past year that would require them to notify their head of department.

Railways: Community Rail Awards

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham (WA 259), why they do not offer substantial prizes in the annual Community Rail Awards to encourage voluntary efforts being made throughout the network.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Community Rail Awards are organised by the Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP). Individual awards are sponsored by a number of rail industry bodies including the Department for Transport. There were more than 200 nominations for this year's awards, which are clearly serving their purpose of rewarding innovative activity on community railways, by operators and by volunteers, and of stimulating further such activity. The Government welcome ACoRP's initiative in launching the awards.

Railways: North-west

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the east Lancashire railway line is considered to be part of a trans-Pennine service or whether it is considered to be local and rural rail.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Services in east Lancashire between Preston and Burnley are provided by Northern Rail, which is classified as a regional train operator.

Railways: North-west

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the north-west regional planning assessment for the railway rules out the reinstatement of the Colne to Skipton line and the reinstatement of passenger services on that line.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The north-west regional planning assessment does not rule out the reinstatement of the Colne to Skipton line or passenger services on that line.